Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  They were feet from the jagged rocks when she clenched her eyes tight, arms shaking as magic surged out of her body and embraced them. A deafening snap broke through the air, and they disappeared just above the salty ocean spray.

  Chapter 45

  In life, we’re either prepared to weather the storms that come our way, or we’re caught blind in the face of their wrath. It’s not about avoiding confrontation or preventing catastrophe. It’s about learning how to persevere. What few realize is that there is strength in not finding shelter. All too often we underestimate ourselves. But the truth is, no matter how rough the waters, we are more than capable of surviving even the darkest of days. And the harder the wind blows and the rain falls, the greater the victory that can be found in standing tall amongst the wreckage.

  The giant branches of the yew tree groaned, swaying as they jutted up towards the eye of the storm. Rome’s car had almost landed in the lake, and he and Aria were now standing at the base of the tree as a hurricane swirled above their heads. Rome looked back towards the path, searching for any sign of Kaleb or Christian. He didn’t want to try this until they were here. If anything happened… He shouted their names as thunder screamed across the sky, drowning out his voice.

  “We can’t wait,” Aria screamed.

  “Then give me your wand.”

  “What?” she said, shielding her eyes from flying debris. “No. Rome, this is my curse. I have to be the one to break it.”

  Christian and Kaleb burst through the trees at that moment, looking stunned at the predicament they’d stumbled onto. The ground was rumbling gently as ice cold rain pelted down from the sky. Kaleb’s hair was being blown around viciously by the storm, and it was blinding him so badly he almost missed the broken tree branch whipping towards his head.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Rome asked.

  “Where do you think?” Kaleb yelled. “Lost in the damn woods.”

  “Jesus,” Christian said, noticing the car. “What happened?”

  “Just our family luck catching up with me.”

  A wailing, furious voice broke above the howling of the storm as Ariahna fought her way towards the tree. She was bracing herself against the strength of the wind and the freezing rain. It was turning into a mixture of snow and hail halfway to the ground and stinging at the skin on her face. She clutched her family’s wand, feeling it want to pull from her grasp.

  The Artisan materialized before her in a twisting cloud of smoke, lifting her up by the collar of her shirt. She raised a hand to throw a hex at him, and he slammed her to the ground, expelling all the air from her lungs.

  “Not yet,” he snarled. “Your atonement has not yet ended!”

  Hatred reflected in his eyes, cold and dull like weathered stone. His hands had wrapped around her arms, sending white fire shooting over her skin. Flames seared her wrists, making her cry out in agony as she lost her grip on the wand. It had barely slipped from her fingers when it went launching towards the yew, plunging into the center of the tree. She wasn’t sure when Christian had leapt onto her attacker’s back, or when Kaleb had pinned Rome to the ground. Everything was happening so fast, she could barely keep up.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Rome screamed. He’d nearly gotten his hand around the Artisan’s throat when Kaleb had decided to rip him back.

  “I’m not going to let you die for her!”

  The storm raged above them, and Christian was thrown off in the struggle, his body slamming back against the base of the tree. He wasn’t certain, but it felt like he’d broken a rib.

  “Fuck,” he groaned, blinking his eyes open.

  A blue, luminescent vapor began seeping from Aria’s body. It curled towards the Artisan as she struggled against him. He was killing her, Christian realized. He was taking her magic, and with it, her only ability to break the curse. And Rome was kicking and screaming near his feet, unable to break the bind Kaleb had on his wrists. His heart stuttered in his chest, and he paled at the sight of the wand above him.

  This is what it had come down to – choice.

  Christian’s hand shot up, reaching for the handle of the wand without thought. His fingers curled around the smooth grain of the wood just as Rome clamped a hand around his ankle. A blinding light followed, zapping Kaleb back so far he almost landed in the lake.

  The yew took their magic, and as it did, Ariahna found herself gasping to life. Energy surged back into her veins and she shot upright, reaching for her throat. The Artisan had vanished, and yet it still felt as though he were suffocating her. Her eyes followed Kaleb as he clawed at the dirt, rushing to Rome’s side. He and Christian were now lying lifeless at the base of the tree. The sight was enough to make her heart stop.

  “Do something!” she screamed. “Bring them back!”

  “I can’t bring them back,” Kaleb roared, staring up at her with eyes full of hatred. “They’re dead. There’s nothing I can do.”

  “Turn them,” she said frantically. “Please.” Aria scrambled over to Kaleb’s side, pleading with him desperately and clutching at his jacket.

  He smacked her hands away.

  “I can’t, you stupid fucking bitch! They’re immune.”

  Ariahna turned tear-filled eyes down to their faces, shaking her head softly in denial. They couldn’t be dead. Christian and Rome, they had been the only reason she had to keep living. She touched Rome’s jaw with a trembling hand, bending to kiss his still warm lips. She closed her eyes, and she could almost feel him smiling.

  This couldn’t be the end.

  “Stop touching him,” Kaleb breathed. “Stop touching him right now or I’m going to rip your hand off and feed it to you.” He watched her body shaking with silent sobs, and it was only filling him with a blinding fury. He wrenched her back by her ridiculous, curly red hair, dragging her to her feet as he stood. “You listen to me,” he whispered, knocking her back into the tree. “He is dead because of you. And if you thought that pathetic old man gave you a hard time, you are in for a nasty surprise, because I’m going to make you beg for death before this day is through.”

  Icy blue eyes peered deep into bright green, and Ariahna’s stomach lurched with a saddened sickness. What she could see in his irises, in the depths of his soul—it was just more pain to pile on to this moment.

  “I always thought you’d hurt him in the end,” she said. “But… you’re the one who always gets hurt, aren’t you?”

  “Shut up,” Kaleb croaked.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You should be.”

  “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to you,” she said.

  His fingers curled around her throat just underneath her jaw, squeezing tightly and lifting her off her feet. “You should be more concerned with what’s going to happen to you,” he spat. His fangs snapped down from the roof of his mouth, and he couldn’t help but smile when she gasped. “May your death be slow and bloody,” he said. He bit viciously into her neck, delighting in the scream flitting across her lips. The taste of blood hit him like a drug. The sheer amount of power coursing through her veins was enough to make him feel light-headed, and yet he was ravenous for more. Kaleb bit down harder, pressing her back into the tree as she struggled, tearing at his hand with frantic fingers. The fighting was only making her blood flow faster, her heart beat enticingly, and her body give off that heavenly scent of fear. Everything she was doing to get away was making her more tempting, more delectable.

  Aria pressed her hands weakly to Kaleb’s chest, summoning what little energy she had and letting it pool in her fingertips. She dug them into his shirt, and when she opened her eyes, a blast of electricity exploded across his body, throwing him back. She crumpled to the ground, trying to recover before he regained his footing. Blood gushed from the wound on her neck, and she latched a hand over it to try and staunch the bleeding.

  “You don’t have to be alone again,” she said hoarsely. “Neither of us does. We can look out for each other.�
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  Flames burst to life at her feet as he stalked closer. “I would rather wander this world alone for the rest of my life than live another second in your company. You killed him. You killed the only person who—”

  Aria retreated back against the tree as the flames encircled her. She could see them reflecting in his eyes; eyes that were so cold, and so alight with anger. “I loved him. I loved them both,” she said. “I never wanted this.”

  Christian’s chest burned as air swelled into his lungs. His body felt weighted, and his eyes were clouded over so intensely all he could see was a mess of colors. Had he just heard Aria say she loved him?

  “What happened?” he groaned.

  Flames licked at his skin and he scooted back, rubbing at his eyes until he was staring at something he wasn’t sure was real. A ribbon of light was spiraling out of the yew, settling over Rome like a warm, golden wave. It soaked into his skin, disappearing with a gentle wisp of air. As soon as it was gone, the flames seemed that much more blinding. Kaleb had Aria pinned to the ground, his fist drawn back to strike as fire engulfed his arm from the shoulder down. She was chanting furiously in Latin as a frightening mass of energy grew between them.

  “Stop!” Christian rasped, fumbling to his feet. It was like they hadn’t even heard him. Kaleb struck Aria across the face, singeing her skin as he lunged at him. “I said, stop!” he growled, crushing Kaleb into the dirt. All he could see was Aria’s blood all over his lips, and in that moment, his wolf wanted nothing more than to tear into him. The air grew dense, buzzing with unrestrained energy. He was moments from shifting when a loud eruption drew their attention.

  The Artisan was suspended in the air, hovering limply as several strings of lightning struck his body. A low, hypnotic hum was resonating from the yew as the storm rushed through him. Sparks and bursts of fire flew wildly off of his skin, and a brilliant light began flickering out of his body. Gusts of wind howled towards the ground, and Christian did the only thing he could think to do. He rushed towards Aria, pressing her back against the tree and shielding her from the blast. It burned at his back like hell had opened up to swallow them whole.

  When it was over, the sky cleared and the moon smiled down on them. Birds chattered animatedly in the trees, and the serene sounds of the lake and forest reclaimed The Grove.

  It was as if nothing had happened.

  Rome sat up carefully, rubbing at his throbbing head. “God, did I go on a bender?” he groaned. “Where am I?”

  Kaleb ripped him off the ground and into a crushing hug. He pulled back an inch, curling a hand around his skull and kissing him so hard it hurt. He was drinking him in—the warmth of his skin, the flutter of his heart, the surprised touch of his lips—and he was never going to let go.

  “What was that for?” Rome mumbled, gasping for breath.

  “…Nothing.”

  “Now that I know you’re not dead,” Ariahna said gently, “I’m going to kill you. What were you two thinking? I can’t believe I almost lost you both.” Her voice was stiff with worry as tears flowed from her eyes, some slipping over the burn on her face and irritating the wound.

  Rome paled, taking in the sight of her injuries.

  “We need to get you to the nurse,” he said.

  Christian scoffed, staring at the two of them in disbelief. “And tell her what, exactly? That your boyfriend beat up your girlfriend?”

  Rome’s eyes snapped back over to Kaleb. He was trying subtly to wipe the blood off of his chin. “…What?” he whispered. “What did you do?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Aria said. “We’re all alive.”

  “…Not for long,” Christian breathed, shooting Kaleb a death glare.

  “Don’t,” she said. “He’s been hurt enough.”

  He huffed, turning his attention back to the yew. “Really?” he said. “I give up my magic for this ugly old tree and it can’t even sprout a single freaking leaf?” Ariahna hid a smile in the fabric of his shirt.

  “Give it some time,” Rome smirked. “The thing has been dead for hundreds of years.”

  “You clearly do not grasp the concept of magic, do you?” he said, quirking an eyebrow at him. “I have two words for you: instant gratification. It’s probably your fault.”

  “My fault? Why the hell is it my fault?”

  “Your magic just wasn’t that strong. But mine, I mean, that should have done something.” Aria slapped him on the arm and he furrowed his brow, smiling down at her. “Hey, where’s the gratitude? I made myself boring for you.”

  “You shouldn’t have done it,” she said softly.

  “Did you really expect me to sit back and do nothing?”

  “No,” she said. “I just didn’t expect, or want, you to do that. I’m sorry, Christian. And… I’m glad you’re okay.”

  He smiled, leaning down to clean the wounds on her neck. Ariahna winced as his tongue traced carefully over her skin, feeling the bite marks tingle and close under his touch. She stopped him before he could attempt to lick her face. “Don’t even think about it,” she smiled. “I’ll make myself a healing tonic.” Christian nodded.

  “Can you make me one?” he asked. “I think I cracked a damn rib.”

  Rome smiled at the two of them before noticing Kaleb had taken a seat next to the water bank. He was tossing stones across the surface, and the tension between him and Christian had almost dissipated. Almost.

  “Why don’t you go tell your vampire he can suck it,” Christian said, glowering at Kaleb’s back. “Because if he ever comes near her again, I’ll tie him to a tree and let him starve.”

  Aria slapped him on the arm again. “Christian,” she said. “Don’t.”

  “Colorful,” Rome commented. “And I think he heard you.”

  A large stone skipped across the surface of the lake, colliding loudly with a lone tree on the other side. Kaleb smirked as the birds fluttered from their branches. “That’ll teach you to fucking chirp at night,” he muttered, swinging back to throw another rock. Rome’s hand dropped to his shoulder, startling him as he sat down.

  “Shouldn’t you find out if she’s alright?” he asked snidely.

  “Strangely, I think it’s you I’m most worried about.”

  “Sure you are,” Kaleb breathed, hugging his knees to his chest. He tossed the stone at his own reflection a moment later, trying to ignore the fact that Christian and Aria had decided to join them. His eyes flicked over her, and then quickly away. Seeing the burn on her face was only making him uncomfortable. Or perhaps that was the guilt he was refusing to acknowledge.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered suddenly, startling himself. Kaleb knew he probably looked as stunned as he felt. He never apologized, ever. Rome’s hand squeezed gently over his shoulder and he fought the urge to shake him off. Thankfully Aria’s only response had been a quick smile.

  Christian spared Kaleb a glare. “So what happens now?”

  “I don’t know,” Rome breathed.

  “We do what I think we’ve always done,” Aria said.

  “And what’s that?”

  “We take each day as it comes.”

  The four of them sat there in silence, letting a few quiet moments slip by in thought. “…I had the weirdest dream,” Rome said suddenly.

  “I’m pretty sure you can’t dream when you’re dead,” Christian mumbled. “It’s like a rule or something.”

  Rome shook his head imperceptibly, tracing his fingers over the cool surface of the lake. “My mother was there,” he said, his voice distant. “It seemed so vivid, so real.”

  “What did she look like?” Christian asked. He watched Rome fish out a small photo from his wallet and hand it to him. Christian stared down at it, feeling a weight on his heart. He’d always imagined her differently – a mean, spiteful woman. But she was beautiful. He could see the kindness in her eyes. And he couldn’t explain it, but there was something so familiar about her.

  “I want you to keep it,” Rome said. “I just
wish I could give you something more.”

  “What did she say?” Ariahna asked. “In your dream, I mean.”

  Rome frowned at her.

  “I never said she spoke to me. How did you know that?”

  “I… I’m sorry; I could have sworn you said that she spoke to you. I think I’m just tired.”

  “She did say something, though,” he mumbled, threading his fingers together. “It was something I forgot, something she always used to tell me. I never really understood what she meant until today.”

  Christian raised his eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.

  “She said that a life without love would exist only for the sole purpose of dying.”

  Christian leaned back on his palm, wrapping an arm around Aria’s shoulders. She smiled up at him, and they stared out across the lake, contemplating those words – reflecting on just how lucky they all were.

  If that were true, one must assume that love was everything. That it wasn’t just a feeling, but a tangible, irreplaceable part of the human soul. To live is to hurt, and to hurt is to have loved. After all, it is always a blessing and a curse. It strikes without warning, or reason. It happens by chance, and often when we least expect it. Love transcends time. It has no beginning, and no end. Like a story, what it does have, is meaning.